Patonga Beach Hotel

Patonga has been an escape place for a long time now. I probably best got to know it from the time that my brother built a weekender there, spending many good times there. Invariably one meal at least will be at the Patonga Beach Hotel and one at the fish and chip shop at the front of it.

Patonga

Patonga is a sleepy fishing village at the southernmost part of the Central Coast, overlooking Broken Bay towards Palm Beach looking south-east, and the Hawkesbury River looking south. The village is on a stretch of sand with the sea on one side and Patonga Creek on the other.

Looking across Broken Bay to the cottages at Darks Corner:

That was taken at sunrise one morning. See all of the fishing boats in the bay. The next photo was taken about the same time, looking across to the Hawkesbury.

Fishing boats in Patonga Creek:

Looking along the beach later in the day:

And this one’s looking back to the pub on sunset:

The Fish & Chip Shop

At the front of the Patonga Beach Hotel you can buy fish and chips, lovely thick-cut chips they prepare themselves, and wander over to the beach to eat them. Perfect.

The Pub

The Place

The pub was rebuilt something like 6-7 years ago. The new pub has become a busy magnet for visits to Patonga, with people arriving via boat and car.

These photos don’t show the views across to the beach and sea. It’s a picturesque setting to linger.

The Food

The popularity of the pub has meant that on weekends it’s usually necessary to reserve a table for lunch, and dinner, ahead of time.

The pub serves the usual pub standard fare, but along with that, superb seafood platters with lobsters and fish from local trawlers, and oysters from the oyster farms in Patonga Creek. In the 2012 SMH Good Pub Food Guide, Patonga Beach Hotel was awarded three schooners, top rating, considering it “best in class”. It was awarded “Best Country Pub“.

These photos were taken over time, and don’t really show off the best of the food. On the menu is usually a variety of dishes, from standard pub fare through to salads and excellent steaks and seafood.

Here’s one of their home-made pies:

The Mezze Plate:

Fish and chips (as if you couldn’t have guessed!):

Visit Patonga, go for a walk along the beach, or around the village, or around the rocks at Darks Corner, or along the Creek. There’s swimming and fishing in the sea or in the Creek. The Creek is particularly good for children. It’s tidal, so gets quite low in low tide. Kayaking up Patonga Creek has been enjoyable on many occasions (just make sure you know which way the tide is drawing the water, and which way the wind is blowing!). And then have a meal at the pub. A wonderful way to spend a day or a weekend or longer.

Details

Here are the details about Patonga Beach Hotel at time of posting. Please check their web site for more current details.